On 1 September 2015, Australia ceased issuing visa labels to holders of Australian visas. Australian visas are issued and recorded electronically. All visa records are stored in a central database which enables online checking of visa details by visa holders, registered Australian organisations and airline staff. Your visa is linked to your passport or ImmiCard through its unique identification number. You and other parties need this number when checking your visa online.

The Department of Home Affairs' online systems are used to verify a visa holder's visa details and conditions. Online checking is efficient, reliable and provides real-time information about the person's visa. This reflects a government-wide agenda to make services to clients more accessible and convenient by providing them with secure and reliable digital alternatives.

When you receive your Australian visa, you are issued with a visa grant notification letter that explains the conditions of your visa, including the period of validity and entry requirements. You should retain this for your own reference and you may wish to carry it with you when you travel as it contains important information about your visa. The information contained within the visa grant notification letter will help you to check your visa status online using our Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system or myVEVO mobile app.

If you have been issued with a new passport since your Australian visa was granted, you must notify us of your new passport details to ensure your record is up-to-date.
Failure to update your passport details with us will result in delays when travelling to Australia. You or register​ed Australian organisations will be unable to check your visa details and conditions online. To update your passport details, you can do it online if you have an ImmiAccount, if your application is available or can be imported into your ImmiAccount, or complete
Form 929 — Change of address and/or passport details and return it to the Department. For more information refer to:
How can I update my address or passport details.

Australian visa holders can provide evidence that they have the authority to travel to, enter and/or remain in Australia by showing their passport or
ImmiCard that is linked to their electronic visa record.​

Airlines that fly to Australia must provide details of all passengers to Australian immigration and customs authorities ahead of their arrival in Australia.

When you check-in for your flight to Australia, airline staff will use your passport details or
ImmiCard to check if you have a valid visa to travel to Australia before allowing you to board the aircraft. This is processed electronically using the Advance Passenger Processing (APP) system.

If you are not flying directly to Australia, you may request your airline to undertake a TIETAC check (inquiry function within the Electronic Travel Authority System) or request an APP check through their partner airlines flying​ to Australia to confirm whether you have a valid Australian visa. This will avoid unnecessary delays at the airport.

A visa provides non-citizens with permission to travel to, enter and remain in Australia. However, Australian visas are also commonly used to satisfy a number of other Australian third party requirements. This might include enrolling for government services, such as for Medicare or for evidence of identity checking purposes, for example, when applying for a driver licence. An employer will also need to check if your visa allows you to work in Australia.

Depending on their specific requirements, third parties have alternatives available to them to check your Australian visa as well as your foreign passport.

VEVO is the primary online visa checking tool for most Australian third parties. With your permission, registered VEVO organisations, including employers, labour hire companies, roads and traffic authorities, education institutions, banks and other organisations can check your details online through VEVO.

Document Verification Service (DVS) is a national online system that allows organisations to compare a customer's identification information with an existing government record. The DVS uses your passport details to check if you have a current Australian visa. The DVS checks if the details on your passport match with the current departmental visa records. Your visa details are linked to your passport so you should notify us of any change of your passport details to ensure your record remains up-to-date. The DVS cannot check expired or invalid visas. This service is available to government and private organisations.

We also provide visa information to a number of Australian government agencies to support their eligibility and enrolment processes. For example, the Department of Human Services c​an access your visa information as part of the
Medicare enrolment process and the Australian Taxation Office system can check your visa details when you apply online for a tax file number.

​You need to be granted and hold an Australian visa to travel to, enter and/or remain in Australia, unless yo​u are an Australian citizen.

You can provide evidence of your visa by showing your passport that is linked to your electronic visa record.

If you have been issued with a new passport since your Australian visa was granted, you must notify us of your new passport details to ensure your record is up-to-date prior to travel.
Failure to do so will delay your travel to Australia and may cause problems with online checking.

Keep a copy of your visa grant notification letter in a safe place for your reference. This letter contains important information about your visa including your visa grant number (or transaction reference number, if lodged online) which is needed for VEVO access. You might want to carry this letter with you when you travel.

You can use
VEVO or myVEVO mobile app for free to check your visa details and conditions.

Employers, schools, banks and other organisations can check your visa details with your consent using VEVO. We may also share your visa information with some Australian Government agencies.